Trowbridge snooker prodigy Daniel Tallentire says he wants to follow in the footsteps of his idol Stephen Lee after the biggest tournement win of his young career.

The Frome Road youngster picked up the Cuestars South West Under 21 Open Tour trophy in the final competition of the season.

Talented Tallentire, 16, was one of the youngest competitors in the field and has now set his sights on emulating Trowbridge’s most famous ambassador for the sport.

“I would like to turn pro by the time I’m 25,” he said.

“I haven’t worked since October as I saved up enough money to play snooker every day. I practice for about 15 to 20 hours a week so it is like a full-time job at the moment.

“Stephen Lee is someone I look up to.

“I used to speak to him at the Trowbridge Snooker Club before it shut down and I play pool with his son Connor. I’d like to get to where Stephen is now.”

Tallentire only picked up a cue for the first time three years ago and recorded his best-ever break of 79 at the Cardiff event in December.

Now based at the Players club in Westbury, he picked up the Open Tour trophy on Sunday, May 10 after a 3-1 victory over close friend Simon Closman gave him an unassailable rankings lead.

Having also won the Westbury section trophy in February, and captaining the leading contenders in the Team Challenge competition, he is on course to record a remarkable treble.

His displays have already earned him a £200 sponsorship deal with Cuestars but he revealed how it could have been very different.

“It’s been a really good season but but I missed the first tournament and wasn’t even going to play snooker at the start,” he said.

“I finished second last season and was more interested in football as I’ve played for Trowbridge Wanderers for 11 years. Luckily enough I made the right decision.”

Tallentire is a talented all-round sportsman as he also bowls left-arm spin for Trowbridge Cricket Club’s second team and hopes to break into the firsts this season.

He is a former Wiltshire ten-pin bowling champion at under 14 level and now aims to represent his country at another cue sport.

“I gave up ten-pin bowling to play snooker,” he said. “I’d already played at a national level and felt I’d achieved as much as I could do.

“I’m going to the English team’s pool trials in June. I think I should be able to make the team.”